Monday, March 26, 2012

New Paul Weller Album is Great!


UK indie icon Paul Weller (The Jam, Style Council) has a new album out Sonik Kicks and it is freakin' great!


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Jack White Announces New Solo Tour Dates


                         Jack White performing at SXSW 2012, photo by Jay Janner/AP

from www.ThirdManRecords.com

Blunderbuss is currently available for digital pre-order on iTunes in Europe and will be available in the US as of 12:01am ET tonight. All pre-orders will immediately receive “Sixteen Saltines.” You can also pre-order the 7″ vinyl single of “Sixteen Saltines” with a non-LP B-side of Jack’s cover of U2′s “Love Is Blindness” right now, official on sale is tomorrow.
We are also pleased to announce more tour dates in the US and Europe for this spring/summer. On Wednesday, March 21st a limited amount of tickets for all dates will be available for pre-sale to Vault members starting at 9 am local time and if stock permits, pre-sale tickets for European dates only will then be available to the general public starting at 1 pm local time here. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, March 23rd at 9 am local time in Europe and 10 am PT/12 pm CT/1 pm ET for the US dates.
May 15 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
May 16 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
May 19 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
May 21 – New York, NY – Roseland Ballroom
May 22 – New York, NY – Roseland Ballroom
May 24 – Detroit, MI – Scottish Rite Theater
May 27 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
May 28 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center for the Performing Arts (Silva Concert Hall)
May 30 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
May 31 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
June 22 – London, England – Hammersmith Apollo
June 25 – Amsterdam, Holland – Heineken Music Hall
June 26 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
June 27 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk
July 2 – Paris, France- L’Olympia
July 5 – Hamburg, Germany – Docks

Jack White at SXSW 2012, photos by Jo McCaughey

























Thursday, March 15, 2012

Excitement Building for New Upcoming Spiritualized Release



Jason Pierce of Spiritualized performing his new song "Little Girl" at Maida Vale Studios for BBC6 from his forthcoming new album Sweet Heart Sweet Light (US release via Fat Possum April 17, 2012)....

We've been rocking out to the new, nearly nine-minute blaster "Hey Jane" for a couple of weeks now....

You can stream "Hey Jane" here...

...this second song is just as good, so you've got to wonder how great the other 9 songs are going to be...

I'll always have a special place in my heart for Songs in A&E and just yesterday listened to the masterpiece Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space in its entirety... seeing Mr. Spaceman perform that with an orchestra at Radio City Music Hall a few years ago was one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen!






The Killers' Brandon Flowers Makes Mormon Propaganda Video




If you use YouTube (duh), you may have noticed a series of sponsored videos supporting the Mormon "faith". Now comes one from The Killers' Brandon Flowers talking about what a wonderful influence Mormonism has been in his life....

Fact: Joe Smith (the founder of Mormonism) was a liar. There were no "golden tablets" from God that Smith claimed he found, and then buried, in upstate New York. It's all completely made up. And as far as I know, Jesus did not visit America after his crucifixion either.

You've seen the evil blond white-shirted thugs going on their door-to-door jihad to convert the world to their bogus "faith". We knew Mitt Romney was a Moron (excuse me, *Mormon), but did you know Harry Reid was too? And the abstinence-only message of Twilight? Courtesy of a  Mormon. And the Mormons sent millions of dollars to support Prop 8 in California (which sought to make gay marriage unconstitutional)...

Perhaps the last straw was Mormons baptizing dead Jews including Holocaust victims.

In "honor" of that one, some clever fellow came up with the site All Dead Mormons Are Now Gay:

http://alldeadmormonsarenowgay.com/

I have taken the liberty of converting the pre-deceased Brandon Flowers. You're welcome.


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Second Jack White Solo Song Online "Sixteen Saltines"

A second song from Jack White's upcoming solo debut album Blunderbuss is now online.

It's Sixteen Saltines, the White Stripes-type rocker White performed recently on Saturday Night Live.





The B-side of the vinyl 7" single of Sixteen Saltines will be Jack White's excellent much-better-than-the-original cover of U2's Love is Blindness....


Pre-Order the vinyl from Third Man Records here....


Monday, March 12, 2012

Stuff We're Listening to This Week

New Multitude - tribute to Woody Guthrie on his centenary feat Jay Farrar, Yim Yames (Jim James), Will Johnson, and Anders Parker

The Decemberists - new double live album

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (Deluxe Reissue) - Disc 2 (out-takes, alternative versions, etc.) of one of my favorite albums of all time feat. the complete song "Siamese Dream" which is a monster. We'd previously heard a snippet of it years ago as a vinyl B-side, but only recently heard the complete version for the first time. Glad to put Billy Corgan back on my Hall of Fame wall where he belongs. I'm putting Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) back up there too, having seen him perform recently and read from his new memoirs. Now if only Jon Spencer Blues Explosion can return to my list of faves....

I was thinking yesterday who my all-time faves are.... my current faves are Jack White, Alex Turner, and Pete Doherty.... all of them currently quite active... but also active are some of my all-time faves like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, and Black Francis/Frank Black.... M.I.A. would have to be on that list too... and I'm sure a dozen others will spring to mind the second I log off...


Arctic Monkeys Releasing 7" with unreleased B-Side for Record Store Day

on Twitter:


ANNOUNCING:  Record Store Day exclusive 7" feat. R U MINE? b/w ELECTRICITY on limited edition heavyweight PURPLE vinyl!

Record Store Day is April 21, 2012


Friday, March 9, 2012

NME on Jack White Solo Show in Nashville


March 9, 2012 11:37

    Jack White plays first solo gig at Third Man Records' birthday party

    Star performs The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather numbers at Nashville bash
    Jack White plays first solo gig at Third Man Records' birthday party
    Photo: Third Man Records
    Jack White celebrated Third Man Records' third birthday last night (March 8) by showcasing tracks from his forthcoming debut album 'Blunderbuss' along with tracks by The White StripesThe Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.

    The star ran through a 19-song set for a select audience, which included six tracks off his new album. He played the set in the lounge of of his label's headquarters in Nashville.

    Kicking off with The White Stripes' 2001 classic 'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground', he then introduced three 'Blunderbuss' cuts - the piano-driven 'Missing Pieces', 'Sixteen Saltines' and recent single 'Love Interruption', which he previously performed on Saturday Night Live. You can see that performance again by scrolling down and clicking below.

    He then went on to perform The Raconteurs' 'Top Yourself', The Dead Weather's 'Blue Blood Blues', The White Stripes' 'Hotel Yorba', 'You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl), 'We're Going To Be Friends', 'Seven Nation Army' and another new track 'Hypocritical Kiss'.

    Although Dead Weather singer Alison Mosshart and The Raconteurs bassist Jack Lawrence were watching in the audience, White chose to use his own backing band for his set, reports Jam Canoe.

    He wrapped up the show with a cover of Leadbelly's 'Goodnight Irene'.

    Jack White played:

    'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground'
    'Missing Pieces'
    'Sixteen Saltines'
    'Love Interrupted'
    'Hotel Yorba'
    'Top Yourself'
    'Hypocritical Kiss'
    'You're Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)'
    'Blue Blood Blues'
    'We're Going To Be Friends'
    'Freedom At 21'
    'My Doorbell'
    'Cut Like a Buffalo'
    'You Know That I Know'
    'Weep Themselves to Sleep'
    'Ball & Biscuit'
    'Steady as She Goes'
    'Seven Nation Army'
    'Goodnight Irene'


    To learn more about Jack White's career, head to iTunes.com.apple.com/nme-icons, where you can purchase a special NME iPad app detailing the celebrated singer/guitarist/producer's past 15 years in rock'n'roll.

    A one-off NME Icons special issue magazine dedicated to White is also available - see Backstreet-merch.com for details of how to purchase.

    http://www.nme.com/news/jack-white/62524?recache

    'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground' (White Stripes)
    'Missing Pieces' (Jack White)
    'Sixteen Saltines' (Jack White)
    'Love Interrupted' (Jack White)
    'Hotel Yorba' (White Stripes)
    'Top Yourself' (Raconteurs)
    'Hypocritical Kiss' (Jack White)
    'You're Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)' (White Stripes)
    'Blue Blood Blues' (Dead Weather)
    'We're Going To Be Friends' (White Stripes)
    'Freedom At 21' (Jack White)
    'My Doorbell' (White Stripes)
    'Cut Like a Buffalo' (Dead Weather)
    'You Know That I Know' (from Hank Williams' Lost Notebooks)
    'Weep Themselves to Sleep' (Jack White)
    'Ball & Biscuit' (White Stripes)
    'Steady as She Goes' (Raconteurs)
    'Seven Nation Army' (White Stripes)
    'Goodnight Irene' (Leadbelly cover)
    Interesting that he played songs from each major group he's been associated with. I never expected to hear White Stripes songs at a Raconteurs or Dead Weather show, but many fans will be thrilled if this set list is any indication of what he's going to be playing on his solo debut tour... I like the idea of a show where I could hear Jack White do "Seven Nation Army" AND "Steady As She Goes" AND a totally new song with a jagged rock rip guitar solo... (MD)


    Wednesday, March 7, 2012

    Rock Band Rush Hates Bigmouth Rush


    RSS RSS RSS

    RUSH VS. RUSH LIMBAUGH: BAND DEMANDS RADIO HOST STOPS USING THEIR MUSIC

    Posted by Zach Shaw on Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 11:14 am
    By now, you’ve probably heard about conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh’scontroversial comments regarding Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke. It’s gotten Limbaugh into hot water, with many sponsorspulling out from the show. Even singer Peter Gabriel is getting on things, demanding that his song “Sledgehammer” (which was played during the original rant) be removed from the show. And now it looks like everyone’s favorite Canadian prog rock trio is following Gabriel’s footsteps.
    Rush have reportedly sent Limbaugh a cease-and-desist letter to Limbaugh after learning that their song “The Spirit Of Radio” was used during his show. The letter sent by the band’s lawyer was posted online by writer Bob Cesca, and reads in part:
    “In addition, the use of Rush’s music in this manner implies an endorsement of the views expressed and products advertised on the show, and is in breach of not only copyright and trademark rights, but also, of section 51 of the New York Civil Rights Law … Accordingly, we hereby demand that you immediately stop all use of Rush’s music and confirm that you will do so.”
    Guess Rush doesn’t want to be in Limbaugh’s limelight. And rightfully so, especially with the backlash Limbaugh has been receiving for his comments.

    Tuesday, March 6, 2012

    "Simpsons" + "Game of Thrones"

    Guardian (UK): Russian punks Pussy Riot arrested over Putin protest


    http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/06/russian-punks-pussy-riot-putin-protest


    Two band members still in custody are reportedly on hunger strike after protest at Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral

     guardian.co.uk
    Pussy Riot
    Pussy Riot perform in front of Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, 20 January 2012. Photograph: Anna Artemeva/AFP/Getty Images
    Russian punks Pussy Riot have been arrested over their February protest at Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral. Beginning on 3 March, the day before the presidential election that saw Vladimir Putin return to power, six band members were charged in connection with hate crimes and violations of public order.
    Two of the musicians remain in custody, where they have begun a hunger strike. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhin are protesting against the conditions of their arrest, which will see them kept behind bars until a late April hearing. They both have young children: Tolokonnikova has a four-year-old son and Alyokhin's daughter is five. The women "will starve in jail until they are returned to their children", Pussy Riot explained on their website.
    If the accused are found guilty, they face up to seven years in prison. "These citizens were taken in on suspicion of committing a crime, one involving a gross violation of public order, including inciting religious hatred as part of a planned conspiracy," announced the government's press service. The band members claim they were interrogated for seven hours, beginning at 4am; the investigators allegedly revealed the case was being directed "from the highest levels", with a focus not just on Pussy Riot's protest but on "all anti-state activities".
    Pussy Riot comprises 10 members and dozens of supporting "staff", who have helped organise guerrilla performances in Moscow. Notorious for their colourful balaclavas, miniskirts and tights, they criticise Russia's authoritarianism, pushing for judicial, educational and cultural reform. "Russia did not have enough explosive punk-feminist groups, pushing people to the development of a culture of protest," members explained to Gazeta.ru last month. "Our concerts were to become a pure protest saying: superheroes in balaclavas and acid bright tights seize public space in Moscow."
    Pussy Riot's most famous flash gig took place at Christ the Saviour on 21 February. Five members broke into the Moscow cathedral, performing a "punk prayer" from the altar. This song, titled Holy Shit, was a condemnation of the Russian Orthodox church's close ties to Putin. "Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin," they sang, "chase Putin out!"
    "Our patriarch is not ashamed of wearing watches worth $40,000, which is intolerable when so many families in Russia are on the edge of poverty," Pussy Riot explained. "Our position is to think critically, to doubt all 'natural' things, and find lies."